News in Brief
COMMUNITY
SECC campaign continues
The “Partners in Giving” campaign, an annual workplace campaign that raises money for local charitable causes, runs through Nov. 30. The State, University and UW Hospital & Clinics Employees Combined Campaign of Dane County, or SECC-Dane, contributed more than $2.57 million to this campaign last year.
SECC-Dane is the largest annual employee-run fund-raising campaign in Wisconsin. Since its inception, the campaign has raised more than $31.3 million, and its goal this year is $2,675,000. Participants in this year’s campaign include 10 nonprofit “umbrella” organizations and 367 individual charities. Collectively, these organizations provide a broad range of services, including support for AIDS research, international disaster relief, legal assistance for the disadvantaged and environmental stewardship.
State, university and UWHC employees who would like information about the campaign should contact their unit’s SECC-Dane coordinator, consult the 2001 SECC-Dane booklet or visit the campaign Web site: http://www.wisc.edu/ secc/news.html.
E. coli work continues
University officials continue to investigate the source of an infection of E. coli bacterium linked to an Oct. 6 UW Stock Pavilion tailgate event.
University Health Services is collecting and analyzing detailed information from large groups of affected and unaffected attendees. Investigators will compare their activities in the hope that they may pinpoint a possible cause. Environmental tests on surfaces in the Stock Pavilion are still pending.
Results of the investigation should be available within the next few weeks, says UHS epidemiologist Craig Roberts. However, it is also possible that the sources of the infection may never be identified. It is now believed that a total of 35 people, including two Dane County children, became ill after attending the event. All have since recovered.
Students or parents with questions about any issue associated with the E. coli infection are asked to call the Dean of Students Office, 263-5702.
American Education Week features Parker Palmer
A free public lecture by author Parker J. Palmer will highlight American Education Week activities sponsored by the School of Education. Palmer will speak on “The Courage to Teach: Educational Reform and Teacher Renewal,” at 7:30 p.m., Wisconsin Union Theater, Monday, Nov. 12.
“If we’re serious about educational reform,” says Palmer, “we must pay attention to the heart of the educator.” Palmer is the creator of the Courage to Teach program, designed to energize the personal and professional lives of K-12 educators. Used with great success in 25 cities nationwide, the program has been credited with helping its participants renew their commitment to education and become better colleagues and teachers.
Often cited as a master teacher, Palmer works independently on issues in education, community, leadership and social change. He has published more than 100 essays and five books, including “The Courage to Teach,” which explores “the inner landscape of a teacher’s life.”
American Education Week, Nov. 11-17, is a nationwide celebration of K-12 schools. Other events sponsored by the School of Education include a lecture by children’s-book author Gregory Maguire. Information: 265-7875.
Author, essayist K.C. Cole to be writer in residence
K.C. Cole, an author, essayist and staff writer for the Los Angeles Times, has been named the fall 2001 Science Writer in Residence.
The author of six non-fiction books and numerous articles, essays and reviews, Cole is known for her work covering some of the most challenging topics in science communication, including mathematics, cosmology, and the less-explored corners of physics and chemistry.
For the past eight years, Cole has contributed a regular column, Mind Over Matter, to the Los Angeles Times. Her books include “The Hole in the Universe: How Scientists Peered Over the Edge of Emptiness and Found Everything,” “The Universe and the Teacup: The Mathematics of Truth and Beauty” and “First You Build a Cloud: Reflections on Physics as a Way of Life.”
As a visiting writer, Cole will spend the week of Nov. 12 on the Madison campus and work with faculty, staff and students to convey a better appreciation and understanding of the business of science writing.
Cole will also deliver a public lecture, “Lost in the Translation: Writing About Science for the General Public,” at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, Memorial Union (check Today in the Union for a room number).
The Science Writer in Residence Program, now in its 15th year, was established with the support of the Brittingham Trust. It continues with support from the UW Foundation and has brought to campus many of the nation’s leading science writers, including three whose work subsequently earned them the Pulitzer Prize, journalism’s most prestigious award.
The program is sponsored by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and University Communications.
Bioterrorism speakers seek questions from faculty, staff
Faculty and staff are invited to submit questions in advance of the planned conference on bioterrorism Tuesday, Nov. 13.
The Medical School and the School of Veterinary Medicine are jointly sponsoring a symposium on bioterrorism from 2-5 p.m. at the Wisconsin Union Theater.
Presenters welcome questions in advance so they can include specific issues that people want discussed. “Since the real anthrax exposures have occurred, there has been both good information and misinformation permeating public discussion,” says conference organizer George Mejicano, assistant dean for continuing medical education at the Medical School. “We want to supplement the formal presentations with answers to questions that people have developed as they listen to sometimes contradictory information.”
Advance questions should be e-mailed to mlhughes@facstaff.wisc.edu.
Each main speaker will make a presentation, followed immediately by questions from the audience. The final speaker will be followed by a panel discussion.
The schedule is as follows: 2 p.m., Chris Olsen, associate professor of public health, School of Veterinary Medicine; 2:50 p.m., Dennis Maki, professor of medicine and head of the section of infectious diseases, Medical School; and 4 p.m., Jeff Davis, chief medical officer and state epidemiologist for communicable diseases with the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. A panel discussion will be held at 4:30 p.m.
Tourists spit fire
The Distinguished Lecture Series will open its 25th season Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Wisconsin Union Theater, with the “Spitfire Tour” of musicians, actors and activists speaking on a wide range of topics. Following individual presentations by the four speakers, the audience will break out into question-and-answer sessions with the speaker of their choice.
The Spitfire Tour speakers and topics include:
- Ingrid Newkirk on animal rights: She is the co-founder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the world’s largest, most provocative animal rights organization.
- Jello Biafra on “nonviolent extermination of the rich.” A renowned social commentator and spoken word artist, he was the leader of the seminal punk band Dead Kennedys.
- Krist Novoselic on censorship: The former bassist for Nirvana, Novoselic is the president and founder of the Joint Artists and Music Promotions Political Action Committee.
- Jill Sobule on social commentary: She is a singer/songwriter whose hits include “Kissed a Girl” and “Supermodel.”
Free tickets are available at the Wisconsin Union Theater Box starting today, Nov. 7, for students, faculty, staff and Wisconsin Union members. Box office hours are Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, noon-5 p.m.
Helping create real-estate markets in Russia
Twelve high-ranking Russian land management officials are on campus for training Nov. 4-11 funded by the World Bank. The training is part of the “Land Reform Implementation Support Program,” which is helping Russia develop real estate markets for the first time.
Very recently, it became legal to buy and sell certain types of land in Russia. The country has an opportunity to make real estate a vital part of its new economy. By illustrating the elements of well-functioning real-estate markets in the United States, UW–Madison experts will provide a dynamic and successful model for the Russian delegation.
The visitors include an adviser to Russia’s Duma, or parliament, and the heads of several cadastre and land committees. The visitors will study the general characteristics of land markets, land valuation, methods of taxation, mortgage and credit. Visits to local lending institutions, real-estate brokers and appraisers, and government land-regulation agencies will allow the Russians to observe the application of land market practices in the United States.
The Land Tenure Center and Business School have organized the program, led by LTC Faculty Associate Peter Bloch and Business School Senior Lecturer Roderick Matthews. Established in 1962, LTC conducts research and training and provides technical assistance on issues relating to landownership, land rights, land access and land use.
Information: 262-3412; caelholm@facstaff.wisc.edu
Web portal organizes information for students
The “My UW–Madison” Web portal service is available to continuing students starting in November. The online service provides an individualized view of campus information in a friendly, secure, Web-based format.
The MyUW resources will include one-stop access to Web-based e-mail, announcements, campus phone book, information, event listings, the student’s personal calendar, the campus online library catalog, financial aid information and the student’s records. Users only need access to a Web browser to check this customized information.
Students can add or delete “views” for each section of the portal according to their needs. Students can use My UW–Madison, for example, to e-mail a professor, reserve a library book, check the weather or check the status of their financial aid applications.
DoIT expects to add My UW–Madison views for faculty and staff in spring 2002.
NOTABLE
Biotech legislation advances
The Senate is expected to vote this week on legislation designed to boost biotechnology industry.
The first measure (SB 295) would allow UW–Madison to accelerate the BioStar building program by increasing the bonding levels in each of the next three biennia. Under the bill, the BioStar program would be completed in eight years, rather than 10 as is currently planned.
The second measure (SB 296) would allow the State of Wisconsin Investment Board to make up to $50 million available for venture capital investment firms to help grow biotechnology companies in targeted Wisconsin cities.
Both failed in the Joint Finance Committee Nov. 5 on a tie vote, but were forwarded to the full Senate anyway.